Wednesday, May 26, 1999 Published at 22:40 GMT 23:40 UKSport: FootballFergie modest despite victoryAlex Ferguson's strike partnership of Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole hold the trophy aloftManchester United manager, Alex Ferguson, lifted the European Cup in Barcelona on Wednesday and confessed he thought his side had thrown it all away.

Substitutes Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer snatched two last-gasp goals to secure a 2-1 victory over Bayern Munich - who had looked the better side for nine tenths of the game.

Bayern had led through Mario Basler's early free-kick and the trophy Ferguson has longed for appeared to be slipping away from him.

"My players never give in," he said. "You always expect they can do something.

"But this time I thought we were beaten.

Bayern's Jens Jeremies challenges Ryan Giggs

"The team spirit is just unbelievable. Everyone works together and is in this together."

United were seemingly dead and buried going into injury time.

But just 30 seconds later, Sheringham stabbed home the equaliser, before Solskjaer
sent the 40,000 United fans in Barcelona's Nou Camp - and the millions around
the world - into raptures with the winner.

It was a goal which ended 31 years of European heartache for the Reds who lifted
the trophy for the first time since 1968 and the days of Sir Matt Busby.

'They won't rest with this'

"I thought it had gone going into the last few minutes, " Ferguson said.